BIODIVERSITY OF MANGROVES

BIODIVERSITY OF MANGROVES A.B. CHAUDHURI 2006 DAYA PUBLISHING HOUSE DELHI 110 035

2006?????????? All rights reserved. Including the right to translate or to reproduce this book or parts thereof except for brief quotations in critical reviews. ISBN 81-7035-426-6 Published by : Daya Publishing House 1123/74, Deva Ram Park Tri Nagar, Delhi 110 035 Phone : 27103099 Fax : (011) 27199029 e-mail : dayabooks@vsnl.com website : www.dayabooks.com Showroom : Laser Composed by : 4762-63/23, Ansari Road, Darya Ganj New Delhi 110 002 Ph.: 23245578, 23244987 APCON New Delhi 110 064 Printed at : Chawla Offset Printers Delhi 110 052 PRINTED IN INDIA

SUNDARBANS MANGROVES FLORA, FAUNA, MAN-ANIMAL INTERACTIONS AND CONSERVATION STRATEGY PART 1

DEDICATION This book is dedicated to the generations of field foresters of Sundarbans and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Author

Acknowledgements The author gratefully acknowledges the co-operation of various survey authorities (Botanical, Zoological and Anthropological ) and of the Department of Forests for acceding the request to utilize some of their photographs and permitting him to use their He is happy to expresses his gratefulness to Dr. Nair of Centre of Earth Sciences for according permission to reproduce some of his observations on Andaman and Nicobar Islands. A.B. CHAUDHURI

Foreword Chaudhuri s choice of World s two most resourceful and beautiful mangrove forests and presentation of multi-faceted qualities and resources proves his ingenuity and profound experience of the difficult terrain and various concepts attached to their. While he sings the song of the beautiful dreamlands, he also exposes the severity of hostile terrain infested with man eating tiger, crocodile, sharks and venomous snakes. Although these two sites fall outside the two megadiversity and hot spot zones (Western ghat and North eastern Indian forests), Chaudhuri considers these areas more versatile in varieties of biota, play of innumerable physiographic features, endemism and biogeographical linkage (Andaman Islands) being more diverse. Chaudhuri authors many books including two on Sundarbans which are (I) Sundarbans mangrove (Ecology and Wildlife, 1989) and (ii) Mangroves of the Sundarbans (IUCN Publication 1995). About Andaman his Resources Survey reports as Director of Forest Survey of India and expert note on Protected Areas speak of biotal richness etc. of the Bay Islands. These books and reports testify to Chaudhuri s, original work. Most outstanding work centres round exposure of the behaviour pattern of man eating tigers which kills more than 40 people a year. Selection of 21 true stories about Man-Tiger interaction is unique which also reveal how the people inspite of high degree of natality want to coexist with the tiger. In my official capacity as the Principal Director I had opportunities to visit mangrove and adjoining areas and interact with people and I find Chaudhuri s observations speak the mind of the foresters fringe people. The people whom I met did not ever spoke against the man-eaters categorically except that they deserved hard some compensation money for the affected families. Sundarbans cover a difficult terrain and needs development in various fields. His selection of protected areas and recording their biota (in Andaman and Nicobar Islands) seems to be very creditable. He presents site-specific biotal check lists. Readers will find this book very handy in having a quick glimpse of various resources problems and conservation strategy outlined by Chaudhuri of the two sites. He also gives some details of the role of marine water which joins both the sites. In an earlier publication (Golden Triangle of Eco Education Tourism [2004] Chaudhuri has presented various qualities of these forests which should be very useful for the eco education tourists. The readers may refer to that publication. Chaudhuri has expressed concern about the heavy rehabilitation of people on the Island, felling of forests to create agricultural land, extension of Industries which would be ecologically and environmentally disastrous for the Islands. The fragilities of expressing tropical forest soil has not been understood by the administrators it seems. DR. T.K.ROY Retired Adviser & ex-officio Principal Director Animal Resources Dev. Dept. Govt. of West Bengal, Kolkata 700 001.

Preface Of the total forest cover of 637, 293 Sq.km., the Mangrove forests cover only 4, 871 sq. km or about 0.15 per cent. Nevertheless these special vegetation type play a very distinctive role in the biotal ecology and coastal management. Moreover, these forests have a rich assemblage of planktonic flora, a varieties of invertebrate and some vertebrate fauna; such areas have also distinctive ornithological and Ichthyological (fish) fauna having innumerable behavioural patterns. The scenario of forest cover in India is not very hopeful. Of 3.2 million sq.km of Geographical area, India has 0.637 sq. km under forest (F.S.I. 1999 report) which form about 19.39 per cent of the G.A. of the Country. The following chart may give a clear view. Class Area in Percent of sq. Km. Geographical Area. Dense forest 377,358 11.48 Open Forest 255,064 7.76 Mangrove Forest 4,871 0.15 India has largest area in Sundarbans mangrove followed by Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Together the form an area of 5,15,800 ha. It must not be forgotten that the combined area of Sundarbans of India and Bangladesh form the largest single patch of mangrove area in the World. Sub Total Scrub Forest Non Forest Total [Source: F.S.I.] 6,37,293 51,896 2,598,074 3,287,263 19.39 1.58 79.03 100.00 For interest of the readers a chart indicating floral and fauna diversity of India is produced although the mangroves have special biota to offer. The chart below represents an estimation of plant resources of India. Some species-rich areas have been mentioned in several other charts. The areas under discussion which are Estuarine Sundarbans mangrove and Bay Island Mangroves are equally rich in estuarine and marine biota which have many endangered and endemic species. As the richness and behavioural patterns of hundred of vertebrate and invertebrate fauna cannot be discussed due to brevity of space. Only a few have been brought to the sphere of discussion. Along with the interesting flora and fauna of the two mangrove areas chosen in this study (The Sundarbans mangrove and Andaman-Nicobar mangroves) it should be relevant to indicate some rich floral and faunal zones in India which are presented in the chart. However, the author feels that there are few areas as facinating and resourceful as the mangroves of Sundarbans and Andamans.

FLORA / FAUNAL BIODIVERSITY OF INDIA (Species estimation approximate) FLORA Angiosperm (17,500 series) Gymnosperms (48 species) Grasses (1,200 species) Climbers (600 species) Fungi (14,500 species) Shrubs (800 species) Trees (1,500 species) Herbs (7,000 species) Sedges (40 species) Lichens (2,000 species) Aquatic plants (300 species) Ferns & Allies (1,200 species) Bryophytes (2,825 species) INDEX OF MINIMUM SPECIES Forest Ecosystem Chart 1 However, India needs tree cover all over the country in view of scattered growing human and cattle population, expansion of Industries, mines and large scale denudation. The conservation effort of 28 tiger projects will likely to save bulk of India s vegetation types and various species of wild animals (except the high hills). The mangroves of the study area have immense varieties of biota which have also the following qualities: They bring joy to the visitors, protect land mass from the impact of cyclone, their roots bend, soil and the estuary serves as nursery ground for various fauna. Various living organisms act in a rhythmic sequence. They have magical qualities of contrast, light and shade, peace and conflicts, facts and fancies. Mangrove soil and water throb will life processes round the clock. Mangroves display intricate balance in nature. FAUNA Reptiles, Snakes (76 species) Mammals (372 species) Lizards (58 species) Reptiles (Tortoises & Turtles (30 species) Algae (6,500 species) Amphibians (200 species) Ichthyofauna (900 species) Avifauna (1,200 species) In mangrove one may breathe in rhythm, sing in rhythm, talk in rhythm, think in rhythm and dance in rhythm. Mangroves are Wild, Wonderful and the best for better than the best in India such as- Wild Ass in the Rann of Kachch, Gahirmatha marine Sanctuary of Sea-turtle in Orissa, Painted Stork and Flamingos of Wetlands, Kashmir Slag of J & K, Tigers of Ranthambore, Phayre s spectacled monkey of Tripura and many other such. There are many more qualities which have been enumerated in various chapters. Author s close study and findings on the flora and fauna of the two areas has been recorded in some of his publications refer (Bibliography). Most outstanding work done by him in Sundarbans was from 1970-1973 on the behavioural pattern of man-eating tigers and breeding biology and ecology of some birds, honey bee, fish etc.

India primarily needs to protect Flora and Fauna for Environmental need in the following areas The valley of Flowers Kanchanzunga National Park Kanha and Ranthambhore Tiger Reserves Mudumalai Bandipur Nagarhole Reserve Complex Silent Valley Reserve Kaziranga National Park Namdhapa Tiger Reserve & Other WLS/NPS of Arunachal. Dudwa Tiger Reserve INDIA National Parks & W.L. Sanctuaries of Darjeeling & Jalpaiguri. Bay Islands of Andaman & Nicobar Islands Mangrove Chart 2 These have been supplemented by visits from time to time in the areas. His involvement with the biota of Bay Islands was from 1978 to 1983 and there after in 1984, 1985 and 1989 (Bibliography). As such most of the data, maps and charts produced in this publication are also from author s work mostly recorded in two books which are- Sundarbans Mangrove (Ecology and Wildlife, 1989) Mangroves of Sundarbans: Vol. One India (IUCN The World Conservation 1994) Various data have been updated. Sundarbans Mangrove Bird Sanctuaries of Pulicat, Point Calimere, Kolleru, Nalsarabor, Vedanthangal. Forests of Western Ghats & North Eastern Himalayas The report of Dr. S.C. Nair, Centre of Earth Sciences, Trivandrum on Natural Resources Conservation and Development in the Bay Islands has been adequately utilized.

The reader should peruse the maps and charts to appreciate the subject matter discussed in the book. It is expected that the readers will get scores of facts and figures on the ecological and biological importance of the two areas. Various factors affecting the very existence of the Bay Islands have been discussed and conservation strategy outlined. The salient features of the two sites have been discussed separately in two parts, part I dealing with Sundarbans and part II with Andamans and Nicobar Islands. A.B. CHAUDHURI

Contents Foreword Preface Acknowledgements PART- I TROPICAL FORESTS OF SUNDARBANS MANGROVE (FLORA, FAUNA, MAN-ANIMAL INTERACTION AND CONSERVATION) Introduction 1. The Terrain 00 2. Socio-Culture Scenario - Settlements, Agriculture, Religion, Tiger Cult 00 3. Maneating Tiger - A Socio Cultural Issue 00 4. Estuary - World s Unique and Complex habitat 00 5. Sundarban s Delta - Physiographic parameters 00 6. Mangrove Flora 00 7. Vertebrate Fauna - Mammals-Reptiles-Amphibia 00 8. Aquatic Avifauna 00 9. Role of Honey Bee 00 10. Ichthyofaunal Diversity 00 11. Special Roles of molluces 00 12. Special Roles of Crustacea 00 13. Benthic Biota 00 14. Floral-Faunal Relationship 00 15. Biosphere Reserve 00 16. Sundarbans Estuary is a Vast Wetland 00 17. Conservation Strategy 00

PART II FLORA AND FAUNA OF ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR MANGROVES RESOURCES, CONSERVATION STRATEGY, PROBLEMS, REMEDY- Introduction 1. Islands Profile 00 2. Biogeographical Realms 00 Linkage Biogeographical Dynamic Biogeographical Bonanza Zoogeography 3. Rain Forests of the Islands 00 4. Physiography of the Coast 00 5. Coastal Animals 00 6. Wildlife Parks and Sanctuaries 00 List of Parks and sanctuaries List of Animals 7. Biosphere Reserve 00 8. Tribals of the Islands 00 9. Management Strategy 00 10. Development Activities 00 11. Checklist of Fauna 00 12. Marine Ecosystem 00 Bibliography Index